Blower for grates.



No. 653,365. Patented July H], I900. J. S. RDARK.

BLOWER FOB GBATES.

(Application filed Feb. 24, 1900.;

(No Model.)

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ing the slats or plates.

4 UNITED STATES PATENT 0FFICE.

JAMES SIDNEY ROARK, OF AMERICUS, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO RICHIE T. HARPER, OF SAME PLACE.

BLOWER FOR GRATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letterslatent No. 653,365, dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed February 24, 1900. fiaerial No. 6,342. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SIDNEY ROARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Americus, in the county of Sumter and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blowers for Grates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has reference to open-grate fireplaces, the object being to provide an attachment to serve as a blower, by the use of which the draft can be regulated and the gases formed from the coal can be wholly consumed.

To this end the invention consists in an open-grate fireplace provided with a frame extending across the top and at either side of the fireplace and having a receptacle or pocket in its top portion.

It also consists in a collapsible screen made up of a plural number of slats or plates partially overlapping one another and loosely united by slots and rivets, the screen being intended to fold up when not in use so as to be received in the aforesaid pocket, where it is retained by a hinged plate or equivalent means, another hinged plate depending from the lower end of the screen serving to close the pocket. I

The invention further consists in certain details of construction whereby the improved attachment may be adapted to answer the purpose of a summer front, with the twofold advantage of being an ornament and an economy.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in

which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure l is a front elevation of an opengrate fireplace having my attachment, the screen being folded back into the pocket. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the same, the screen being shown here down to serve its purpose as a blower. Fig. 3 is a detail of the screen, showing the manner of unit- Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the receptacle or pocket closed, the screen appearing in its folded state; and Fig. 5 is a rear face view of the screen, show ing the slots and rivets.

A denotes the usual fireplace, and B the grate, provided at its front with a shelf 17. With this as a basis the invention may be defined as comprising a frame O,which is preferably hollow and constructed of cast metal, having the pedestals c o and the curved side and top members or moldings cl (1, provided with any suitable ornament or design for instance, with the bead or column (V. The top member (1 is formed as a receptacle or pocket (Z having preferably inclined bottom (1 and front opening (1, the latter beingof rectangular shape and extending longitudinally midway thereof.

The blower comprises a collapsible screen D, made up of a plurality of metal slats or plates 6. These are made with double walls either by doubling the metal back upon itself or, as shown in the present instance, by mak- 7o ing the slats in two pieces, as clearly illustrated in the detail Fig. 3. Here the slat is shown as consisting of a front member e,with its longitudinal edges turned back, forming flanges c,which embrace and retain a flanged 7 5 plate 6 This construction is advantageous in affording space for heat radiation, thus obviating blistering or other possible injury to the polish or other finish with which the screen will generally be provided due to the intense heat to which it must necessarily be exposed when in use.

The slats may be yieldingly united in any suitable manner; but I prefer to do this by providing the back member 6 with transverse 8 5 slots f, generally two in number, one at either end thereof, and with rivets g, contiguous said slots, adapted to slide in corresponding slots in the next adjacent slat,the slots being arranged in tiers of four, receding toward 0 'the middle of the screen. By this construction the slats can readily be folded one upon the other. The uppermost slat has a hinge h, by which it is connected to a plate t, which in turn is hinged atj to the upper part of inclined bottom d Another plate It is hinged to the lower part of the screen at 70 and has a pair of rings Z to facilitate folding or unfolding the screen. This plate serves admirably as a closure for the pocket when the screen is drawn up out of use and will be also provided with a bead or column d or other appropriate design to coincide with the ornament on the lateral members (Z of the frame. To facilitate the placingof the plate 7; in this position, two spring-guides m m are provided on the upper member (1, which bear against either end of the plate.

It will be apparent that with my improved blower the draft can be regulated at will as the screen can be adjusted to any position. The attachment can also be used as a summer front, and viewing the improvement from a standpoint of economy the advantage of such an arrangement is obvious.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A blower such as described, consisting of a collapsible screen formed of a plural number of partially-overlappin g double slats or back-lined plates, said plates having each rivets at either end thereof, and transverse slots mediate said rivets, adapted to engage corresponding slots and rivets, respectively, in the next adjacent plate, and a supportingframe having a pocket with a closed bottom, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a frame havinga pocket in the top thereof open toward the front, of a blower consisting of a collapsible screen formed of a plural number of metal slats or plates, said plates having each rivets at either end and transverse slots mediate said rivets, adapted to engage corresponding slots and rivets, respectively, in the next adjacent plate, said screen having a hinged connection in said pocket and a depending plate to close said pocket when the screen is not in use, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an open-grate fireplace, of a mantle attachment or frame, comprising top and lateral members, the top member formed as a receptacle or pocket open toward the front and having an inclined bottom, of a blower consisting of a collapsible screen formed of a plural number of metal slats or plates having a front double-flanged member and a back member embraced thereby, with aspace between said plates for heat radiation, said back member having rivets substantially near its ends and transverse slots mediate said rivets adapted to engage corresponding slots and rivets, respectively, in the next adjacent plate, a plate hinged to the upper of said slats and to near the rear of the pocket whereby the screen can be collapsed and folded back therein, and a hinged plate depending from the lowermost slat, adapted to serve as a closure for the pocket, and a shelf or plate extending laterally across the front of the grate and against which the screen is adapted to abut when in its lowermost position for completely closing the tireplace save through the grate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES SIDNEY ROARK.

Witnesses:

W. '1. LANE, J. A. AUSLEY, Jr. 

